Movers & Shakers

NICK Witney has been appointed the first chief executive of the new European Defence Agency. Witney, who was previously in charge of international security at the British Ministry of Defence, will be responsible for setting out the agency’s work plan during his three-year term. German Hilmar Linnenkamp was appointed the agency’s deputy chief executive. Linnenkamp was previously the head of the armaments and international affairs section at the German defence ministry.

BARRY McSweeney, Irish director-general of the Commission’s multi-site Joint Research Centre (JRC), has taken up the position of chief science advisor to the Irish government, as of 1 September. Deputy Director-General, Roland Schenkel, takes over as acting head of the JRC. A new director-general will be appointed after the new Commission team takes office on 1 November.

BRITON Anna McLauchlin joins European Voice this week as business correspondent alongside Business Editor Peter Chapman. McLauchlin has a background in financial services and previously worked at EUPolitix.com.